Wheel tightener



Jan. 7, 1930 J. NORTHERN I 1,742,664.

WHEEL TIGH'iENER Filed Jan. 51, 1927 I 2 Sheets-Sheet l ;2 "g,1,

' L. J. NORTHERN WHEEL TIGHTENER Filed Jan. 51. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 7, 1930 LOUIS J. NORTHERN, F GREENSBURG, KANSAS WHEEL TIGHTENER Applicationfiled January 31, 1927. Serial No. 164,854.

The present invention relates to av device.

for tightening the 'felly or rim of awheel on the spokes thereof, and aims to provide a novel and improved device vof this character which may be conveniently attached to a wheel without removing it from the axle ant will provide for efficiently tightening the felly on the spokes. I

Another objectof the invention is the provision of a wheel tig'htener as above mentioned which is adapted to swage the outstruck flanges of a metallic felly or rim to the reduced ends of the spokes extending through said outstruck flanges.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a tool which when arranged on the felly of a wheel will align the swaging members of the tool with an outstruck flange on the felly and hold-said tool in properposition on the wheel during the tightening or swaging operation.

A still further object of the invention isthe provision of means for supporting the tool against spreading or twisting movement durmg the swaging operation, as well as forming means for locking the tool to a spoke and on the felly of the wheel.

It is also an object of the invention to providea device of the above indicated character, which is simple and substantial in constructon, which can be manufactured economically, and which will be thoroughly eflicient and practical in use.

lVith the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes can-be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front view of improved tool showingthe same arranged upona wheel, Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same,

Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken on line 8-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a perspective view of my improved tool, showing the same in position to be attached to a wheel,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on line 5-5 of Figure 2, and

Figure 6 is a vertical fragmentary section taken on line 66 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, thenumeral 10 designates the main frame or bracket, which consists of a vertical wall 11 from the ends of which project upper and lower plates 12 and 13 respectively, forming a frame of substantially U-shape in formation, the bottom plate being provided with a longitudinal slot 14 extending inwardly from the free end thereof and of a width corresponding to the diameter of the spokes of a wheel. Mounted on the pper side of the lower plate adjacent the. vertical wall 11 by means of pivot pins 15 are locking plates 16 arranged so that when swung towards each other on the upper surface of the plate 13, said locking plates will come together at the center of the slot 14. Each of the locking plates 16 is provided at its inner edge with an arcuate notch 17, to form a circular o ening aligning withth'e slot 14 when the "p ates are brought together. The arcuatenotches 17 are countersunk, as indicated by the numeral 18 for a purpose which will be set forth, as the description Droceeds. v

Threaded through the upper plate 12 of the frame or bracket 10in alignment with the" notches 17 when the locking plates 16 are in contact is a screw-threaded rod 19 provided on its upper'end with an enlarged head 20 in which is slidably mounted a hand bar 21 for operating said screw-threaded rod. The lower end of the operating rod 19 is slightly reduced in'size, as at 22, to receive a swivel ed die or swage block 24 held on the rod by a set screw 25 engaging an annular groove 23 in said reduced portion of the rod. The swage block is cylindrical andprovided in s upper end with a socketto receive the lower end ofthe screw-threaded operating rod and inits lower end with a'c'avity tapered inwardly from the outer end thereof and of a diameter corresponding approximately with the out-struck flange 27 of the metal felly 28 of an automobile wheel for swaging said flange on the inner reduced end 29 of the spoke 30, the socket and cavity being separated by a partition 26.

Pivotally connected at the free end of the upper plate 12 of the bracket or frame 10 is a U-shaped bracing member or yoke 31, in the present instance pivotally connected to said plate by means of a crosspiece 36 welded or otherwise secured thereto and having upstanding ears 35 at its ends through which the pivot pin 34 passes, the outer sides of the ears being flush with the opposite side edges of the plate so that the members 32, 32 of said yoke will straddle said plate, and the length of the yoke is such that the bight 33 thereof will pass over the outer ends of the bifurcated lower plate 13 of the supporting frame of the swaging device to brace the spaced apart plates 12 and 13 during the swaging operation. The pivoted locking plates 16 have their upper surfaces slightly rounded at the opposite side of each, as indicated by the numeral 38, so that when a rim is arranged over said locking plates, the corners of said locking plates will not distort the rim during swaging of the outstruck flanges 27 thereon.

In operation, the device is arranged in the position indicated in Figure 4 of the drawings, with the U-shaped bracing yoke slightly swung upwardly and the pivoted locking plates swung outwardly away from each other so that the device may be easily and conveniently connected to the rim or felly of the wheel with a spoke thereof extending through the slot 14 in the bottom plate 13 of the bracket or frame 10. By then swinging the locking plates to positions so that the same contact with one another, the spoke which extends through the slot 14 also extends through the opening formed by the arcuate notches 17 of said locking plates. The U.-shaped bracing member is then swung downwardly to a position such as that indicated in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 6 of the draw ing to brace the frame as well as hold the pivoted locking members against swinging movement or out of engagement with the spoke. The hand bar 21 is then turn-ed so as to rotate the power screw 19, which will cause said screwto move downwardly through the top wall 12 of the frame or bracket until the swage block 24 engages the outstruck flange 27 around the reduced end 29 of the spoke. Further turning of the screw will swage the out struck flange on the reduced end of the spoke. It can be seen that by pro viding the annular groove 23 on the end of the power screw with the set screw 25 extending through swage block and into said annular groove the swage block is carried by the power screw, yet the same is not compelled to turn therewith during turning thereof.

- It is also to be noted that the end of the power the swage block so as to relieve strain on the screw. During the swaging operation, the U-shaped bracing member will prevent spreading of the upper plate 12 from the lower plate 13 of the frame or bracket and thus hold the device in proper position so that the same will function efliciently. The arcuate notches 17 in the locking plates 16 are countersunk at their upper edges as in many instances the shoulder on the spoke which engages the rim or felly at the inner side thereof spreads outwardly and will be received in the countersunk portion of the opening formed by the locking plates which will cause the pressure to be applied on the rim and not on the spread portions of the spokes. After an outstruck flange has been tightly swaged to firmly engage outstruck flange 27, the power screw is turned so as to disengage the swage block 24 from the outstruck flange and the U-shaped bracing member and locking plates are swung upwardly and outwardly respectively so as to permit removal of the device from the rim. By using the device for tightening each spoke of a wheel it will obviate the necessity of purchasing a new wheel when the rim becomes loose upon the outer ends of the spokes.

lVhile my device was especially designed for tightening the rim on the spokes of wheels, the same may be efficiently used in connection with'removing or pressing in bushings in bearings and may also be used for other purposes found desirable.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. A wheel tightener comprising a bracket arranged for attachment to the rim of the wheel, a power screw carried by the bracket, means for turning said power screw so as to move the same with relation to said bracket, and a swage block mounted on the lower end of said power screw for turning movement thereon, said swage block being provided with an inwardly tapered recess for receiving the spoke receiving outstanding flanges on the rim-so as to swage the same in tight engagement with the ends of the spokes.

2. A wheel tightener comprising a bracket consisting of a vertical wall and apair of horizontal plates extending therefrom at each end thereof, the lowermost of said horizontal plates having a longitudinal slot extending lnwardly from the free end thereof so as to receive a spoke of the wheel therein, a power screw-threaded through the upper horizontal wall, means for turning said power screw, and a swage block on said power screw pro vided with a depending annular flange for engaging about a spoke receiving outstanding flange upon the rim so as to swage the same in tight engagement with the spoke received in said slot.

3. A wheel tightener comprising a'bracket consisting of a vertical wall and a pair of horizontal plates extending therefromat-ea'ch end thereof, the lowermost of said horizontal plates having a lon itudinal slot extending inwardly from the free end thereof so as to receive a spoke of the wheel therein, a power screw threaded through the upper horizontal plate, means for turning said power screw, a swage block on the power screw provided with a depending annular flange for engaging about a spoke receivingoutstanding flange upon the rim so as to swage the same in tight engagement with the spoke received in said slot, and means for preventing spreading of said horizontal plates during swaging operation.

4. A wheel tightener comprising a bracket consisting of a vertical wall and a pair of horizontal plates extending therefrom at each end thereof, the lowermost of said horizontal plates having a longitudinal slot ex.- tending inwardly from the free end thereof so as to receive a spoke of the wheel therein, a power screw threaded through the upper horizontal wall, means for turning said power screw, a head on said power screw provided with a depending annular flange for engaging about it spoke receiving outstanding flange upon the rim so as to swage the same in tight engagement with the spoke received in said slot, and a U-shaped bracing member having its free ends pivotally connected to the upper horizontal plate, while the bight portion thereof is adapted to swing under the lower horizontal plate for preventing spreading of said horizontal plates during the swaging operation.

5. A wheel tightener comprising a bracket having a horizontal plate provided with a slot for receiving a spoke, a power screw carried by the bracket, means for turning said power screw, a swage block on the power screw provided with a depending annular flange for engaging about a spoke receiving outstanding flange on the rim so as to swage the same in tight engagement with the spoke positioned in said slot, and locking plates carried by said horizontal plate for holding said spoke in position in said slot.

6. A wheel tightener comprising a bracket having a horizontal plate provided with a slot for receiving a spoke, a power screw carried by the bracket, means for turning said power screw, a swage block on the power screw provided with a depending annular flange for engaging about a spoke receiving outstanding flange on the rim so as toswage the same in tight engagement with the spoke positioned in said slot, and a pair of pivoted locking plates carried by said horizontal plate, said locking plates being provided with arcuate notches for receiving the spoke positioned in said slot in orderto hold the same in said slot during the swaging operation.

7. A wheel tightener comprising a bracket having a horizontal plate provided withaslot ing about a spoke receiving outstanding flange on the rim so as to swagethe samein tight en= gagement with the spoke positioned i-n said slot, a pair of pivoted locking plates carried by said horizontal plate, said locking plates being provided with arcuat-e notches for receiving the spoke positioned in said slot in order to hold the same in said slot during the swaging operation, and means for holding said locking" plates against swinging movement on their pivots. r

8. A wheel tight-ener comprisinga bracket having a horizontal plate provided with a slot for receiving a spoke, a power screw carried by the bracket, means for turning said power screw, a swage block on the power screw provided with a depending annu= lar flange for engaging about a spoke receiv-ing outstanding flange on the rim so as to swage the same in tight engagement with the spoke positioned in saiduslot, 'a pair of pivoted locking plates carried by said horizontal plate, said locking plates being pro vided with arcuate notches for receiving the spoke positioned in 'saidslot in order to hold the same in said slot during the slwagingoperation, and a ,U-shaped bracing member having the free ends thereof pivotally con-V nected to, the bracket while the bight portion thereof is adapted to swing under said horizontal plate for. preventing spreading of the bracket during swaging operation.

9. A wheel tightener comprising a bracket having a vertical wall and a pair of horizontal plates extending each end thereof, the lower horizontal plate having a longitudinal slot extending therein from the free end thereof for receiving a spoke, a pair of pivoted locking plates arranged on the upper surfaces of said lower horizontal plate, said locking plates having arcuat'e notches formed therein so that when said plates are swung.

to a position adjacent one another thespoke will be received in saidnotches in order to hold the same in the slot, 'apower screw threaded through the upper h'orizontal plate, means for turning said screw, and "a swage block on the-lower end of the power screw provided with a depending annular flange for engaging about a spoke receiving outstanding flange on the rim so as to swage the same in tight engagement with the spoke arranged in the slot inthe lower horizontal plate and notches of the pivoted locking plates. v r

10. A wheel tightener comprising a bracket having a vertical wall and a pair of horizontal plates extending therefrom at each spoke, a pair of pivoted locking plates arranged on the upper surface of said lower horizontal plate, said locking plates having arcuate notches formed therein so that when said plates are swung to a position adjacent one another the spoke will be received in said notches in order to hold the same in the slot, a power screw threaded through the upper horizontal plate, means for turningsaid screw, a head on the lower end of the power screw provided with a depending annular flange for engaging about a spoke receiving outstanding flange on the rim so as to swage the same in tight engagement with the spoke arranged in the slot in the lower horizontal plate and notches of the pivoted locking plates, and means: carried by the upper horizontal plate and adapted to engage the lower horizontal plate for prevent ing spreading movement of said plates during swaging operation andfor holding said locking plates in position.

11. A wheel tightener comprising a bracket having a vertical wall and a pair of horizontal plates extending therefrom at each end thereof, the lower horizontal plate having a longitudinal slot extending therein from the free end thereof for receiving a spoke, a pair of pivoted locking plates arranged on the upper surface of said lower horizontal plate, said locking plates having arcuate notches formed therein so that when said plates are swung to a position adjacent one another the spoke will be received in said notches in order to hold the same in the slot, a power screw threaded through the upper horizontal plate, means for turning said screw, a head on the lower end of the power screw provided with a depending annular flange for engaging about a spoke receiving outstanding flange on the rim so as to swage the same in tight engagement with the spoke arranged in the slot in the lower horizontal plate and notches of the pivoted locking plates, and a U-shaped member having its free upper ends pivotally connected to the upper horizontal plate while the bight portion thereof is adapted to engage under the lower horizontal plate for preventing spreading of said plates during swaging operation while the parallel side portions of said U-shaped member engage the pivoted locking plates in order to hold the same against swinging movement on their pivots.

12. A wheel tightener comprising a bracket,

having a vertical ,wall and a pair of horizontal plates, said horizontal plates being connected to said vertical wall at its opposite ends and extending outwardly therefrom, the lowermost of said horizontal plates having a slot extending therein from the end thereof for receiving a spoke of the wheel, a power screw threaded through the upper horizontal plate, means foriturning said screw, a swage block mounted on the lower end of the power screw for turning movement, said swage block having a cup-shaped recess therein for receiving a spoke receiving outstanding flange on the rim in order to swage the same in tight engagement with the spoke.

13. A wheel tightener comprising a bracket having a vertical wall and a pair of horizontal plates, said horizontal plates being connected to said vertical wall at its opposite ends and extending outwardly therefrom, the lowermost of said horizontal plates having a slot extending therein from the end thereof for receiving a spoke of the wheel, a power screw threaded through the upper horizontal plate and having an annular groove at its lower end, means for turning said screw, a swage block having a pair of cup-shaped recesses in its opposite ends, the uppermost of which is adapted to receive the end of said power screw having said annular groove therein, a screw carried by said swage block and engaging into the annular groove for holding the swage block on the power screw, yet permitting turning movement of said screw with relation to said swage block, the lower cup-shaped recess being adapted to engage about a spoke receiving outstanding flange on the rim in order to swage the same in tight engagement with a spoke.

14. A wheel tightener comprising a bracket having a vertical wall and a pair of horizontal plates, said horizontal plates being connected to said vertical wall at its opposite ends and extending to one side of said vertical wall, the lowermost of said horizontal plates having a slot extending therein from the end thereof for receiving a spoke of the wheel, a power screw threaded through the upper horizontal plate, and having an annular groove at its lower end, means for turning said screw, a swage block having apair of cup-shaped recesses in its opposite ends, the uppermost of which is adapted to receive the end of said power screw having said annular groove therein, a set screw carried by said swage block and engaging into said annular groove for holding the swage block on the power screw yet permitting turning movement of the latter with relation to the swage block, the lower end of the power screw being adapted to engage the inner end of the upper recess in the swage block so as not to impart strain on said set screw, the lowermost of said cup-shaped recesses being adapted to receive therein a spoke receiving outstanding flange so as to swage the same in tight engagement with the spoke.

15. A device of the character described comprising a bracket having a vertical wall and a pair of horizontal plates projecting outwardly from saidvertical wall at its-opposite ends, an opening in the lower horizontal plate, a power screw threaded through the upper horizontal plate, means for turning said screw, a swage block on the lower end of the power screw, and means carried by one of said horizontal plates for engaging the other in order to prevent spreading of said horizontal plates.

16. A device of the character described comprising a bracket having a vertical wall and a pair of horizontal plates projecting outwardly from said vertical wall at its opposite ends, an opening in the lower horizontal plate,

a power screw threaded through the upper horizontal plate, means for turning said screw, a swage block on the lower end of said screw, and a U-shaped bracing member pivotally connected to one of the horizontal plates and adapted to engage the other horizontal plate so as to prevent spreading of said hori-.

zontal plates. LOUIS J. NORTHERN. 

